Operating mechanism for valves and the like



P. P. DEAN 1,708,941

OPERATING MECHANISM FOR VALVES AND THKE` .LIKE

Original Filed March 7, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet l April 16, 1929.

April 16, 1929. p. p. DEAN 1,708,941

OPERATING MECHANISM FOR AVALVES AND THE LIKE.

Original Filed March '7, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 A TTOR/VEY P. P. DEAN April 16, 1929.

OPERATING MECHANISM FOR VALVES AND THE LIKE Original Filed March 7, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 0 5%?. &.

5 /////l///l/////////ll////l/l//// A TTORNEY Patented Apr. 16, 1929.

UNITED STATES ,PATENT OFFICE.

PETER PAYNE DEAN, 0F STANFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO CUTLER-HAMMER MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

OPERATING MECHANISM Foa VALVES AND THE 1.11m

Application lcd March 7, 1924, Serial N0. 697,585. Renewed September 14, 1925.

This invention relates to driving mechanisms for valves and other devices.

The invention is particularly applicable to driving mechanisms of the character disclosed in the patent to Peter P. Dean, No. 1,245,574 issued November 6, 1917. This patent discloses a driving mechanism including a rotatable element adapted to be restrained to establish a driving connection between driving and driven members, and to be released to effect substantially instantaneous release of the former member from the latter, and the present invention has among its objects to provide improved restraining means for such element.

Another object is to provide improved control means for such restraining means.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear.

The accompanying drawingsillustrate an embodiment of the invention which will now be described, it being understood that the embodiment illustrated is susceptible of modification without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

-In the drawings,

Figure l is a sectional view of a valve op-' erating mechanism embod ing the invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 2 -2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view ofV certain of the parts shown in Fig. 1 with the cover therefor removed; .f

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the limit switch mechanism, the cover therefor being shown in section;

Fig. 5 is a sectional viewtaken on line 5 5 of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is a diagrammaticview of the c0ntrol means. 1 v' Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the same illustrate a' driving mechanism including a 'driven shaft 1, afdriving: member 2, a planetary speed reducing gear 3 for establishing a driving connection between said shaft and said member anda motor 4 operatively connected to the driving.r member 2 through the medium of a worm wheel 5 and a worm 6. These parte are all mounted within an enclosing casing 7 and the motor 4 is provided with a housing which is secured to one side of said casin by stud bolts 8. i

he driven shaft 1 is rotatably mounted within a bearing 9 in casing 7 and the same has a shaft extension 10 fixed thereto upon which the driving member 2 is rotatably mounted. Worm Wheel 5 is fixed to the driving member 2 while the worm 6 is fixed to a shaft 11 supported by bearings 12-12 in opposite walls of the enclosing casing and is connected to the shaft of motor 4through the medium of a suitable coupling 13. The planetary gear 3 includes a pinion 3'* formed on the driving member 2, a plurality of inions 3b carried by a disk 14 fixedto the driven shaft 1, andan internally toothed ring gear 3, the pinions 3b being arranged between and in meshwith the pinion 3 and the ring gearand driven shaft 1 whereas release of said ring gear will permit rotation thereof for release of said driving member from said driven shaft.

In the respects above noted the driving mechanism is substantially the same as that disclosed in the aforementioned atent.

The means employed in this instance for restraining the ring gear 3 includes a latch 16 rotatab y mounted upon a pin 17 and having a projection 18 adapted to cooperate with a stop 19 fixed to ring gear 3 within a circumferential groove 20 in the latter. As shown in F ig. 3, one end of pin 17 is fixed to a member 21 secured to casing 7 while the opposite end sri a projection 29 which is arranged/to abut an adjustable stop 30 to limit movement of said arm in a counterclockwse direction under the action of said spring.

The toggle operating means includes a windin 31 having a plunger 32, said plunger being s idable within a non-magnetic tubular member 33 supporting at opposite ends by a U-shaped magnet frame 34 fixed to casing 7. Plunger 32 is connected to pin 25 bya link 32, and, as hereinafter set forth, upon attraction thereof the same abuts a magnetic plug 35 in the left hand endof the tubular member 33. Plug 35l isthreaded into frame 34 toA provide Afor axial adjustment thereof and upon settind of said plug ina given position the' same is eld therein by screwbolt 36 threaded into a lug 37 on said frame.

From the foregoing it is apparent that upon energization of wi-nding 31, the plunger v32 acts through the medium ofthe toggle to move latch 16 to a position wherein the projection 18 is located in the path of stop 19 to provide for restraint of ring` gear'3C, and upon `decnergization of said wlnding the spring27-acts to break the toggle for release of said latch. Plug 35 is adjusted to limit movement of the plunger ,32 to a position wherein the arm 24 and link 23 of the toggle are slightly out of alinement to provide for breaking of the toggle under the action of a relatively slight ull by spring 27. Furthermore, it should e noted from F ig.1 that the cooperating faces of latch projection 18 and stop 19 are so shaped that upon restraint ofring gear 3c said faces tend to Vforce latch 16 upwardly and such faces are so-designed that the upward force on said latch is sufficient to break the toggle upon deenergization of winding 31 even though spring 27 fails to act.

The control means for solenoid 31 includes a. limit switch mechanism mounted on one side of the enclosing casing7, such mechanism being driven from the shaft extension 10 of the driven shaft 1 through the medium of an epicyclic reduction gear 38.4 As best shown in Fig. 1, shaft extension 1() is journaled withiu an opening in a plate 39`fixed to lugs on the interior of the enclosing casing 7 and the epicyclic reduction gear includes a spur gear 40 fixed to said plate, pinions 41 and 42 fixed to a pin 43, the former pinion meshing with spur gear 40 and the latter meshing with a spur gear 44 fixed to a shaft 45. Pinions 41 and 42 are rotatabl mounted within an opening in an arm 46 fixed to shaft extension 10 and the relative pitch diameters of the several gears of the epicyclic reduction gear is such that upon rotation of saidarmwith shaft 10, the pinions 41 and 42 cooperate with gears 40 and 44 to drive shaft 45 from shaft 10 at a greatly reduced speed. Shaft 45 is provided with a bore for receiving the end of shaft extension 10 and the same extends through an openingin a plate 47 fixed to casing7, such Vbly mounted on pins 53 and 54, respectively,

fixed to-plate 47, and, as shown in Fig. 1, the

former contact element is `provided 'with a air of contact fingers 55-andf56, while the atter 1s provided with a-.pair'o'f contact fin- Agers.57 and 58.- -Contact fingers 55 and 56 cooperate with insulated-stationary contacts 59 and 60, respectively, mounted `on a pin 61 fixed to plate 47 while vcontact fingers 57 and 58 cooperate with insulatedstationary contacts 62 and v63,'respectively', mounted on a pin 64 fixed to said'plate. The contact fin` gers of each of the elements 51 and 52 are fixed to an insulating plate'65 mounted upon a` supporting member 66, said supporting membersbeing-rotatably mounted upon the pms 53 and 54. Eachof the supporting mem'- ers 66 is provided with-a projection carrying a roller 67, the rollerv associated with contact element 51 being arranged in the path of cam member 49 and thel roller 'associated with contact element 52 being arranged in the path of cam member 50. Each of-'thel contactel'e'- ments is adapted to be locked'l in closed position by a latch 68 rotatably mounted upon a pin 69 fixed to plate 47l and'l eachl of said contact elementsis biased toward open position and its associated latch towards locking position by a spring 70. Each of the springsl 70 is held under compression between a lug 71 on its respective supporting member 66 and a projection 72 on its respective latch and each of the latches has a tripping member 73 associated therewith. The "tripping members 73 are rotatably mounted on the pins 69 and each is provided with a downwardly extending projection 74 and an upwardly extendingr projection 75 adapted to engage an adjustable stop 76 on projection 72. The projection 74 associated with the latch of contact element 51 is arranged in the path of cam member'4-9 while the projection 74 associated with the latch of contact element 52 is arranged in the path of cam member 50 Vand each of the trippingmembers 73 is held in cngagement with its respectiveV stop 76 by a spring 77.

The function and operation of' the aforedescribed limit switch mechanism will now be more fully set forth. Assuming that both of the contact' elements 51 and 52 are in closed position as shown invFig. 4, it is apparent that upon clockwise rotation of shaft to a given limit, cam member will engagev the projection 74 of tripping member73 associated withl contact element'52 to tri the latch associated with said element; pon

tripping of said latch contactelcment` 52 Iis moved to open position under the'act1on-of spring and will remain in such ositlon pending returnv movement -of the-s aft '45 in a counterclockvrise direction. Upon initial.V

return movement ofsha'ft45 in a counter-l clockwise direction cam 50 releases the late h 68 of contact elem'ent 52 and said element is moved to closed position through engagement-A of said cam with the roller 67.` Upon counterclockwise rotation of shaft 45 to a givenv lm ut, cam 49 engages the projection 74 of trippmg member 73 associate with contact element 51 to provide for opening of said `element and upon initial return movement of said cam in a clockwise direction the same releases the tripping memberfand engages the roller of said contact element to provide for closure thereof.

In connection with the foregoin it should be noted that the limits at which t e contact elements 51 and 52 are moved to open position can be varied by varying the angular positlon of cams 49 and 50on shaft 45 and that relatively'fine adjustments of such lilnits can be made byadjustin stops 76 to vary the angular position of tie projections `74 fwith re' spect to their associated latches. 0 l

The toggle operating mechanism l1s surrounded by walls 8001i one side of enclosing casing 7 and a coverplate 81 is fixed tosaid vmotor terminals are passed through an opening 84 in one of the walls 80 while the limit switch terminals arc passed through an o ning 85 in one of said walls and afcommumcating opening 86 in plate 47; The limit switch mechanism is enclosed by a box-shaped casing 87 which is fixedto plate .47'by bolts 88.

Referring to Fig. 6, the driving motor 4 is diagrammatically shown as provided with an armature A and a series lield'winding F and a drum controller 90 is provided for controlling said motor and for also controlling the winding 31 of the latching mechanism through the medium ofA contact lingers 55 and 57 of the aforedescribed vlimit switch mechanism. Drum controller 90 has an intermediate off position and extreme onposi tions and the same is biased toward the form- 'right hand operative Y ment ofthe controller er position and is providcd,wi'th a magnetic .latching .device 91 for holding the same in either. ofuits extreme on positions. Said drum ,controller includes a series of stationary :conta-'cts V92 to 99Y inclusive, and

'cooperating movable contacts 100 to 106,

inclusive, 'certain' of said.movable contacts being adapted tocooperate with certain of saidN st a't ionary contacts to establish 'reverse "connections 'for' motor 4 and ,certain other being adapted'lto cooperate with certain of said stationary contacts to establish energizing circuits "for the v'indingBl of the valve operating mechanism through limit switch contacts 55`and 57 selectively and' to include the windin 91f o f the .controller latching device insuc lcirclnl'itsn l Assumingthat'thecontroller is moved towards the rightfromthe position shown, m0-

tor 4 Vis energized by a. circuit extending from line L through contacts 92,100 and 93 by conductor 107 thro'u h thearinature A hymenductor 108 throng i contacts 95, 102 and 94 by conductor 109through the field winding F to line L2; Also upon establishment of the aforedescribe'dfmotor connections the winding 91 of the controller latching device and the winding 31 of the valve operating mechanism are energized' by' a circuit extending from line L to contact 92 by conductors 110 and 111 through a resistance r to andthrough winding 91 by.' conductor l112 ,through contacts 98,104 and 97 by conductor 113 through limit switch 57 and by conductor 114 through vthe Winding'Bl to line L. Thus immediately upon estab shmentof the aforedescribed motor connections, the latelng'device`91 is energized to hold the controller in its extreme sition while the winding 31 is energized to old the. latch 16 in a position for 'restraint ofthe rin gear 3 of the driving mechanism. Assuming that establishment of the aforedescribed motor connections eie'cts operation of the` motor in a direction to effect opening of the valve and that 'the contact element57 is arrangedto open upon opening ofthe valve, it is apparent that immediately upon opening of the valve, said contact element effects deenergizationof winding 31 for interruption of thel driving connec- -tion between the motor and the driven shaft and also effects deeuergization of the latching device 91 Ato 'provide for'the return of the controller 90 to loif pgsition. Upon movetowards the left from the position shown, the motor 4 is energized to operate in a reverse direction the energizing circuit therefor .then extending from line L to contact l92 by conductor 110 through contacts 96, 103 and 95 by conductor 108 through the armature A byconductor 107 through contacts 93, 101 and 94. by conductor 109 through the tield'winding F'to line L2. Upon establishment of the aforedescribed reverse power connections for the motor, Winding 31 of the valve operating mechanism and winding 91 of the. controller latchin g device are energized by a circuit extending from line L through Ihe winding 91 as already traced through con-A tacts 98 and 105, 99 and 10G by conductor 115 throughlimit switch and by conductor 114 through the winding 31 to line L2. Winding 31 is thus energized to effect the restraint of ring gear 3 while winding 91a of the controller latchiug device is energized to restrain said controller in its operative position.

Upon closure Yof the valve Contact 55 of the j 31 is deenergicd to interrupt the driving connection. Thus upon return'of voltage in the suj'i'ply'-circn1t'it ,1s necessary to move 'the controller manually into'an operative position to continue theoperat-ionof the valve operating mechanism',` Furthermore, it should be Vnoted that upon'opening of either of the limit switches tlie winding 31 is deenergized even though the controller fails to return to off position.

The controller 90 may be operated to stop and start theinot'or'at will between limits and to indicate the position' ofthe valve, lamps 116 and 117 are provided. Lamp 116 is con nccted between lines L: andL through the limit switch contact element and hence it will be energized whenever said element is'closed and decnergized upon opening ofgsaid element while lamp 117 is connected between lines Lvv and L2 by limit switch contactlelement 56 to be controlled thereby in the sfamejmanner.l Thus enorgization of both of lamps 116 and 11.7 will indicate closure of both of the limit switch contact elements 56 and 58 and thereby indicate intermediate positioningof the valve whereas decncrgization of the lamps will indicate opening of their respective limit switches and thereby indicate positioningr of the valve at corresponding` limits.

IVY-zat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination, a reversible driving element, an element to be driven thereby in opposite directions, a driving connection between said elements including a memb'erto be respectively restrained and released to render said connection effective end linefective, a control part for said member movable to one position to restrain the same and to another position for release thereof and means for moving said part between the aforesaid positions, said means including an eleetromagnet and a toggle operating connection between said magnet and said control part.

2. In combination, a reversible driving element., an element to .be driven thereby in opposite directions`,a driving connection between said elements including a member to be respectively restrained and released to render said connection effective and ineffective, a

lpivoted latch movable into and out of ena driven member, a planetarygear driving.

connection -therebetween includingarevoluble gear memberto be restrained and released render said' connection effective and ineffective. apart fixed to said gear member, a

pivoted latch =.for'. rest. raining 4and releasing 'said part, and operating means associated.

with said latch includingan electromagnet,

and a toggle operating connection between said magnet andsaid latch.4 1 4. In oombmationtpowerfdrlving means, fa

driven membera planetary-gear driving connection therebetween including a revoluble gear member to ,be restrained and released to render said connection effective and ineffective, a pivoted latch associated ,with said gear member, said la'tchbeingmotable ino posite directions to restrain and release sai member, a togglef.; a'ssociatedgwith saidlatch -includingpartsadapfted to bemoved ntovsuba stantial alin'ement `formovetnentof said latch into engagement with'fsaidgear member and .l

an electromagnetic operating ldevice associated -with-said toggle formovingthe parts thereof into.' substantial alinement, Asaid (levice including a wi nding, artplunger therein operatively'fconnected to saidtoggle and ladjustable limitmeans forvarying the stroke of-said plunger..

5. In combination, a reversible driving element, an element to -be driven thereby, a planetary gear driving connection therebetween including a revoluble gear member to be restrained and released to render said connection effective and ineffective, a. pivoted latch associated with said member movable in opposite directions to restrain and release the same` an operating toggle associated with said latch, a winding associated with said toggle for moving the same in a direction to effect restrainto saidgear member by said latch and a spring associated with said toggle for-moving thesame in an opposite direction. A*

6. In combination, driving and driven clements, a driving connection therebetween, including a member to be respectively restrained and released to render said connection effective andV ineffective, electromagnetic restraining means for said member and control means for said restraining means including a pair of limit. switches to be driven from said 'driven member and a control device adapted to energize `said electromagnetic device through said 'li`m'it switches. selectively.

7. In combination, an element to be driven, reversible, power driving means therefor to operate the same in opposite directions, a driving connection between said element and said means including a member requiring restraint -to render said connection effective, an electromagnetically controlled restraining device for said member, a pair of limit switches to be controlled by said driven member, and a controller for establishing reverse p'ower connections for said driving means, said eont roller being also adapted to establish an energizing circuit for said electromagnetic restraining device through said limit switches, selectively.

8. In combination, an element to be driven, reversible power driving means therefor to operate the same in opposite directions, a driving connection between said element and said means including a member requiring restraint to render said connection etl'ective, an electromagnetically controlled restraining device for said member, a pair of limit switches to be driven from said driven membervand a controller having an intermediate off position and extreme on positions, said controller being 'adapted in said latter positions to establish reverse power connections for said driving means and being also adapted to establish energizing circuits for said restraining device through said limit switches selectively.

9. In combination, an element to be driven, reversible power driving means therefor to operate the same in opposite directions, a driving connection between said element and .said means including a member requiringr the restraint to render said connection e.fl`eetivc, an electromagnetically controlled restraining device for .said member, a. pair ot limit. switches 'for controlling said electromagnetic restraining means, Said limit switches having an operating part associated therewith to be, driven from said driven member and an epicyclic reduction gear between said operating part and said driven member.

10. In combination, an element to be driven, reversible power driving means therefor to operate the same in opposite directions, a driving connection between Said elementand said means inclndinga member requiring restraint to render said connection effect-ive, an electromagnetieally controlled restraining device for said member, a pair of control switches for said restraining device. a revoluble control element for said switches ar ranged in alinement with said driven member and an epieyelic reduction gear between said elen'ient and said driven member.

ll. In combination. an element to he driven, reversible power driving means therefor -to operate the samer-in' opposite directions, a

driving connection between said element and said means`including a member to be restrained to render saidv connection effective and to be released to render said connection ineffective, an elecfromagnctically controlled restraining device for said member. a pair of limit switches, aA controller biased t0` wards an intermediate off position and movable in opposite directions into extreme on positions, said controller being adapted to selectively establish reverse powcreonncctions for said driving means in said extrelne positions and heilig also adapted to establish energizing circuits for said restraining device through said -limit switches selectively and electroniagnetic means to be, included in the latter circuits` for restraining said controller in the extreme on positions thereof. c

12. A unitary driving mechanism for valves and the like comprising a driven member, a relatively high speed driving motor and a speed reducing driving connection therebetween having an electromagnet to hold certain parts of said connection in coacting relation, said connection being rendered ineffective by separation of said parts and said parts having cooperating faces to effect separation thereof upon deenergization of said electromagnet for substantially instantaneous release ofhsaid driven member.

13. In a driving mechanism for valves and the like in combination, a driven member, a relatively high speed driving motor and a speed reducing driving connection therebetween having an electromagnet to hold certain parts of said connection in coacting relation subject to release upon deenergization of said electromagnet to render said connection ineffective, one of said parts of said connection being rotatable and being at all times subjected to the driving force of said motor and said parts having engaging surfaces acting under the influence of said rotat- H0 able part to force said parts out of coacting relation when said electromagnct is deenergized.

14. A driving mechanism for valves and the like comprising a. driven member, a relatively high speed driving motor and a speed reducing driving connection therebetween having parts to be engaged to render said connection effective and disengaged to render said connection ineffective and having an electromagnct to hold said parts in engagement subject fo release upon deenergizat-ion of said electromagnet, said parts havingr cooperatinf T faces wherebj.y movement of one part tends to effect disengagement of said parts.

15. A driving mechanism for valves and the. like comprising a driven member, a relatively high speed driving motor` and a speed reducing driving connection therebetween having an electromagnct and parts under control by said eleclronmgnet' tube engaged to render said connection effective and disengagedA to render said connection ineffective, 5Said parts having conrtingsurfaces whereby movement; of one tends to effect disengagement/0f said parts 'and whereby initial and Continuedengagement of Suid parts dependent npen energizzvltien of said electronmggnet. le

In Wit-ness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

PETER PAYNE DEAN. 

